Fargo, ND – December 5, 2011 – Microsoft today announced it has chosen Hitachi Consulting, an award-winning Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and global management consulting and technology services company, to supplement its Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) IT team located in Fargo, ND. The agreement elevates the decade-long strategic relationship between the two companies, as well as opens up exciting business and employment opportunities for the community.

Under the agreement, Hitachi Consulting will establish a technical development center in Fargo. From this center, the company will provide sourcing, program management, development, and testing for the MBS IT organization. MBS is the business group within Microsoft that builds Microsoft Dynamics ERP and Microsoft Dynamics CRM solutions, and the MBS IT organization builds internal software solutions to support the MBS business. Hitachi Consulting will also look to develop new business and service other existing clients from this new facility.

“Microsoft sought a vendor committed to building a strong organization in Fargo, and Hitachi Consulting outlined a compelling vision and plan for developing a nearshore strategy,” said Don Morton, Site Leader of the Microsoft campus in Fargo. “We are pleased to expand our relationship with Hitachi Consulting to continue to provide nearshore IT value through lower costs, higher quality, and consistent delivery.”

Hitachi Consulting is one of Microsoft’s largest enterprise alliance partners and is recognized worldwide for its global brand, technology expertise, and industry-led solutions. Hitachi Consulting has earned many awards including Microsoft Dynamics AX Global Partner of the Year, Microsoft Dynamics Partner of the Year, and multiple Customer Excellence awards.

“We are very excited to elevate our already successful global relationship with Microsoft to make Fargo a major technology hub for our business,” said Phil Parr, President and CEO of Hitachi Consulting. “This marks another key milestone in our growth strategy and will help us quickly establish a stronger presence in the region to further expand our global delivery scale.”

“North Dakota’s business-friendly environment and educated workforce make it an attractive region to develop a strong near-shore strategy,” said Mike Gillis, Senior Vice President of Hitachi Consulting’s Microsoft Dynamics practice. “With low unemployment rates and several high-quality universities nearby, the area provides us with a large pool of educated, experienced, and quality individuals to expand our workforce. We believe in a future where the best consulting firms will have major centers in North America, India and China. We are proud that Hitachi Consulting can play a leadership role, providing its customers choice and flexibility in supporting their global business processes. Now with our 360 degree relationship with Microsoft, Hitachi Consulting is well poised to establish a strong presence in the Fargo area.”

Near-term, Microsoft will offer Hitachi Consulting its facility for co-location of the teams. As Hitachi Consulting grows, it has plans to move to its own building allowing them to expand their presence in Fargo and further develop their business by servicing other global companies.

About Hitachi Consulting Corporation

As the global consulting company of Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Consulting is uniquely positioned with the agility and client-focused approach of a boutique firm along with the stability and innovation that comes from being part of Hitachi. The company is committed to helping clients bring their business visions to life by applying in-depth industry expertise, innovative solutions and technology services. From strategy articulation through application deployment and maintenance, the company offers a full-range of services and solutions.

Its client base includes 35 percent of the Fortune 100 and 25 percent of the Global 100, along with many mid-market leaders. With offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Hitachi Consulting employs more than 5,000 professionals across 13 countries with delivery centers in India and China to offer global delivery scale. For more information, visit www.hitachiconsulting.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 360,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2010 (ended March 31, 2011) consolidated revenues totaled 9,315 billion yen ($112.2 billion). Hitachi will focus more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes information and telecommunication systems, power systems, environmental, industrial and transportation systems, and social and urban systems, as well as the sophisticated materials and key devices that support them. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.